Winnie Mabena

Last weekend, I had an incredible Goal Getters planning session_ Kick Start 2026 led by Tafadzwa Bete Sasa walking away with more than just a to-do list.

What really struck me was not just the "what" but the process of creating the plan to work on the goals. We often rush into setting targets without a strategy for how to actually reach them....

This was more than a planning session. It was a strategy session, too.

The most powerful takeaway for me was the 'R' for relevance in SMART goal setting. It’s easy to set goals because they sound good or look impressive, but I was challenged to audit every ambition on whether

✨️ this goal aligns with my current season of life

✨️Is it truly relevant to my long-term vision, or is it just "noise"?

What a way to kick start a year!

Thank you, Taffy, for empowering us greatly!

Sometimes, you just need to get in the room where the people who have what you are looking for or aspiring for are....the rest is history 😍😄

"12 New Chapters: 365 Chances"

I found a quote: “12 New Chapters: 365 Chances” and I took it personal to think through how my book would look like given this phrase as a book title. Here below is my thought process;

✨️Chapter 1: Let go of the past
The first step in writing a new chapter is to close the old one. What feels heavy for you to carry forward into a new beginning?

✨️Chapter 2: Define your why
What’s driving you? What gets you jumping out of bed in the morning? Take time to reflect on your values, passions, and long-term goals. Your “why” is the foundation upon which you will build your next 365 days.

✨️Chapter 3: Set Intentions, Not Resolutions
We sometimes spend so much time in the planning phase and end up eating time for action. Thus, we must be intentional with moving from New Year’s resolutions to focus on setting intentions. What kind of person do you want to become? What habits do you want to cultivate? Intentions are about growth, not perfection. Intentions not only set you in motion but also build resilience.

✨️Chapter 4: Vision boards clarify goals, boost motivation, and keep you focused as it is a visual reminder of dreams.

✨️Chapter 5: Take Small Steps
Do not try to tackle everything at once. Break down big goals into tiny, actionable steps.

✨️Chapter 6: Prioritize Self-Care
Remember, the person executing the goal is just as essential as the goal. If anything, they won’t be a goal or achievements without you. You are the most essential part of the process, and the goals

✨️Chapter 7: Surround Yourself with Positivity
The people you surround yourself with can either lift you up or bring you down.

✨️Chapter 8: Embrace Failure
Spoiler alert: You will mess up. It’s okay. Failure is not the opposite of success; it’s a part of it. Learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward. One of my mentors helped me reframe failure with this perspective; “ failure is feedback for champions”. That’s my perspective, and it helps me reflect deeply on seeing areas of improvement

✨️Chapter 9: Practice Gratitude
Focus on what you have, not what’s lacking. Write down three things you are grateful for each day, each month, and at the end of a quarter or 6 months and watch your perspective shift.

✨️Chapter 10: Take Risks
What’s the worst that could happen? Often, it’s not as bad as we imagine. Take calculated risks and push yourself outside your comfort zone.

✨️Chapter 11: Stay Flexible
Life is unpredictable, and we are not in control of everything that happens. Don’t get too attached to your plan. Stay flexible, adapt, and adjust as needed. When things don’t go as planned, look out for alternatives, or it could be time to launch 'plan B'.

✨️Chapter 12: Celebrate Progress
I am so big about building resilience and celebrating progress is one way to do that.

Now it's your turn! Remember that every day is a chance to start anew. What story will you write?

As we step into new journeys, anxiety can creep in, leaving us liable to make decisions we either would not want to make or decisions that lack intentionality. Thus, when anxiety kicks in, we must pause, reflect, and give ourselves space and choose to make intentional choices rather than convenient ones. Choosing growth over comfort can be a game changer and, in turn, build resilience against all odds.

What's that first and intentional step you are taking into the unknown this year?

As we step into a new year, let's shine a light on those sneaky limiting beliefs and rewire our minds for growth and resilience.
Limiting beliefs can be silent resilience-killers that whisper "you are not enough" and hold you back from embracing challenges and bouncing back from setbacks for not everything that happens in life is within our control.

Therefore, to win this year and beyond, regardless of the highs and lows we can potentially experience; we need to bank on a growth driven, resilient mindset. Here are a few tips to help👇

Happy New Year🎉🎊✨️
We often start filled with a mix of excitement and trepidation yet we must be encouraged to remember we have got 365 chances to make this year our best one!

Here is to writing 12 new chapters and banking on 365 chances to do it right and better